By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.
The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.
There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.
The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php
Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php
In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php
Sha La La La Lee
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sha la la la lee, yeah.
I knew everything gonna be alright.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Sha la la la lee.
I asked her 'where do you want to go?'.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Sha la la la lee.
I held her close and I asked her
If she was gonna be my baby.
It felt so good
When she answered me:
Oh yeh, oh yeh.
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh.
She looked good and she moved so fine.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
And all the guys knew she was mine.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Sha la la la lee.
I held her close and I asked her
Again if she was gonna be my baby.
It felt so good when she answered me.
Oh yeh, oh yeh.
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh.
Want to know how my story ends?
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Well we invited just a few close friends.
Sha la la la lee, yeh.
Sha la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la la la la la lee.
Sha la la la la la la la la la lee.
The Small Faces’ “Sha La La La Lee” is a lively and upbeat song about hope, love, and living in the moment. The song starts with the singer picking up a woman on a Friday night - it’s clear that he has high hopes for the evening. As they go to different places and enjoy each other’s company, the singer feels confident that everything’s going well, and that things are moving in the right direction. He can’t help but be taken with the woman - she looks good and moves “so fine”, and he loves the feeling of holding her close.
But the real magic of the song comes in the chorus. The repetitive ‘Sha la la la lee’ is almost nonsensical, but it’s also a reminder that sometimes, the moment is more important than the words. The singer asks the woman if she’ll be his baby, and when she answers affirmatively, he’s overjoyed. In fact, the evening goes so well that they invite a few close friends to join in the celebration.
Ultimately, “Sha La La La Lee” is about enjoying life’s simple pleasures - good company, good music, and the thrill of possibility. The song lets us know that sometimes, it’s the moments we don’t overthink that make the best memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Picked her up on a Friday night.
I met her on a Friday night and we decided to go out together.
I knew everything gonna be alright.
I had a feeling that the night was going to be great.
I asked her 'where do you want to go?'.
I asked her where she wanted to go out that night.
Well we went someplace, I don't know.
We ended up going somewhere, but I don't remember where.
She looked good and she moved so fine.
She was attractive and had graceful movements.
And all the guys knew she was mine.
Everyone could see that we were together.
Want to know how my story ends?
Would you like to hear what happened next in my story?
Well we invited just a few close friends.
In the end, we only invited a select group of close friends to join us.
I held her close and I asked her
I embraced her and asked her
If she was gonna be my baby.
If she wanted to be in a romantic relationship with me.
It felt so good
It was a wonderful feeling
When she answered me:
When she replied with:
Oh yeh, oh yeh.
Yes, definitely!
Sha la la la lee.
Refrain of the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNY LYNCH, MORT SHUMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peanutbutterimfeelinbetter7291
Picked her up on a Friday night
Sha la la la lee, yeah
I knew everything gonna be alright
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Sha la la la lee
I asked her 'where do you wanna go?'
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Well we went someplace, I don't know
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Sha la la la lee
I held her close and I asked her if she was gonna be my baby
It felt so good when she answered me
Oh yeh, oh yeh
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh
She looked good and she moved so fine
Sha la la la lee, yeh
And all the guys knew she was mine
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Sha la la la lee
I held her close and I asked her again if she was gonna be my baby
It felt so good when she answered me
Oh yeh, oh yeh
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh
Wanna know how my story ends?
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Well we invited just a few close friends
Sha la la la lee, yeh
Sha la la la lee
@sararichmond8476
Loved this song since I was a kid. Fun, cool and one of the best singers ever in music. 🤩
@davidclarke8398
The sixties at its best. So much energy.
@rw4649
Amazing voice, rhythm so excited powerfull making every people to listen this music feel like fly to sky 👍
@a.tanner8524
What an amazing pop record. Radiates happiness and optimism. Something that current music sadly lacks.
@VirreFriberg
Ironic considering the members themselves have stated dislike towards the song
@a.tanner8524
@VirreFriberg did they though? Do you have proof?
@VirreFriberg
@A. Tanner Marriott called the song "Mickey Mouse" stuff and that the first song he actually liked was All or Nothing. They only recorded the song because they had no other choice as their previous single I've Got Mine was a chart failure.
@marieeugenierousseau3822
La musique actuelle est comme est devenu le monde, sans humanité
@paulthompson3922
+@A. Tanner ++3
@angelomia6691
Glad I grew up at the time of such great music.